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Member:
Senate Finance Committee
Staff:
Elizabeth Rexford
Contact Information:
Toll Free Year Round:
1-800-597-3707
Interim: May-December:
P.O. Box 1630
WWW.LEGIS.STATE.AK.US
CONTACT OTHER
ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5915
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Anchorage Office:
907-269-7450
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31st Alaska Legislature
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May 22, 2020
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Legislature Adjourns After Ratifying CARES Act Funding
The legislature reconvened this past Monday to ratify the CARES act funding for Alaska. Although the $1.2 billion in coronavirus aid heavily favored urban over rural areas, swift action was required by both bodies to prevent delays in community & program disbursements due to ongoing litigation.
No legislator had the ability to present amendments due to both time constraints and the dire situations our Alaskan communities find themselves in. Overall, I commend the legislature in convening and ratifying the legislation so Alaskans can begin receiving the federal funds. The Senate adjourned after ratifying relief aid plans on Wednesday, May 20th, day 121 of the legislature.
Below is a breakdown of the CARES Act and how federal funding was allocated as of this past week.
CARES Act Funding Breakdown
This past week, both bodies passed HB 313 before adjournment. The federal funding includes the following breakdown:
- The money will be distributed in a model that follows the precedent set by the longstanding Community Assistance Program also known as the Revenue Sharing.
- $750,000 for Alaska Regional Development Organizations.
- The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development will distribute grants that could possibly help 10,000 small businesses.
- Eligible businesses are those unable to obtain loans through the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program or other federal aid.
- AIDEA will operate the program through a contract with Credit Union 1.
- The grants will go to small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
- The grants can be up to $100,000.
- Non-profit organizations will likely be eligible for the grants.
$100 million in economic stimulus for Alaska fisheries.
- Funds can go to commercial fishermen, fishing guides, and charter operators.
- More information about how these funds can be used is coming with federal guidance.
$51.6 million directed in the federal CARES Act to be used for rural airports and other programs managed by the Alaska Department of Transportation.
- The CARES Act included $10 billion for airports across the country.
$45 million to help stabilize K-12 classrooms impacted by COVID-19.
$42 million for child nutrition programs that serve children forced out of school by the pandemic.
$29 million to address rural transportation costs, including the Alaska Marine Highway System.
- By helping people make mortgage and rent payments, Alaskans will be less likely to become homeless.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some people experiencing homelessness are at higher risk of moderate to severe symptoms of COVID-19.
$5 million for direct financial aid grants to help University of Alaska students, and to help minimize systemic impacts of COVID-19 on the university system.
$3.6 million in critical funding for state, local, and tribal governments to provide a range of programs including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, and more.
PFD Distribution
The State moved this year's Permanent Fund Dividend distribution date of $1,000 up to July 1, 2020, three months earlier than usual. This decision was made due to the economic hardships experienced by many due to the coronavirus pandemic. SB 241 ensures that any individual receiving state or federal public assistance will not be adversely impacted by this year's PFD or any other recovery rebate/cash payment.
Small Business Grants
Due to circumstances resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, most of our small businesses are facing economic hardships while many are facing permanent closures. Small businesses represent 80 percent of our employees in Alaska; it is every more important to keep our largest employers up to date about what resources are currently available.
Additionally you can find a directory of state, federal and private business-focused organizations providing assistance to Alaskans currently navigating the business climate here.
Unemployment Insurance
As I write this, our communities and families throughout the state are still under tremendous pressure following unprecedented job losses due to both the pandemic and the global fallout in the price of oil. As we are on the road to recovery and the economy is slowly opening back up, I'd like to send out another reminder to those experiencing financial hardships due to the wide-spread job losses.
Applying for UI online is fast, easy, and secure. You can apply for UI benefits, online, any day and time of the week. Go to my.alaska.gov. You will need the following information:
- Social Security Number.
- Current mailing and physical address.
- A telephone number where you can be contacted.
- Most recent employer's name, address, and phone number (as shown on your pay stub).
- Dates of employment and the reason you are no longer working, for example (quit, fired, lack of work, on-call, or working part-time). It is important to provide your last, actual, physical, day of work, when completing the online application.
- Total hours worked and gross wages earned in the last week you worked.
- Information about any retirement income you are receiving.
- *If you served in the military in the past 18 months, you will need to fax copy 4 of your DD214.
To begin, go to my.alaska.gov. Under Services for Individuals select Unemployment Insurance Benefits. You will need to enter your username and password. If you are new to myAlaska, you will need to create an account (see instructions on the next page of this help guide). If you forgot your username or password, select Forgot my username or Forgot my password. You will be sent an email to the original email address you used to set up your myAlaska account, with a link to change your username or password. If you no longer have access to the original email, you will need to contact the UI claim center at (907) 269-4700 or (888) 252-2557 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and ask a claims representative to reset your myAlaska account so you can create a new account.
I hope we continue to flatten the curve and keep numbers low, but even then we will need to remain vigilant for quite awhile to prevent it flaring back up. Let's continue to be supportive of one another as our state is on the road to recovery. I appreciate your understanding and patience while we are trying to do as much as we can under these circumstances.
Senator Donald Olson
Toll free: 1.800.597.3707
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